The girl within

It's amazing to me:

I am 35 (almost 36).
I wear a suit.
I appear serious and capable.
People listen to me when I speak in meetings.
People trust know what I'm doing.

And yet:

When I deal with my mother (who asks the hard questions), I am ..






I still are and dont know why.


Your opinions on this burning issue of universal importance are appreciated.

The evil within

I like my demure served with a small side of badass

Some thoughts

We were driving along the Naivaisha road just outside Nairobi when I saw this masai boy herding his cattle waving at us shouting “water, water”. I then realized with a little shock how easily is to forget how reality is in other countries.

I saw that in Sierra Leone but I forgot. I saw Liberia from inside and from peacekeeper perspective, I saw Cote d’Ivoire in a troubled times with eyes wide open, I have been to Guinea, Somalia and other rough spots of this world where some people lives are worth nothing and this is the reality. I lived and worked in Africa I know the difficulties that people face around the world because I work on those issues. Potable water, something that I take for granted and never worry about in my daily life is a precious asset and a daily struggle for some people…

However, life in the United States lures you into a strange state of mind and even when working on world affairs one tends to get lost in shopping and attractions of various kind. One starts paying attention to things like fashion, Six Feet Under Dexter ….spa week ends and sample sales.

All this excitement makes it so easy to forget how real life in majority of places on this planet looks like, and even if you try to think and question things, you end up following the mainstream. Another pathetic sheep running in the crowd.

Thinking that our economic problems are top of the agenda just because restaurants are only half full during restaurant week it really, really sucks.

I don’t want to be the annoying bitch putting everything into "be glad you have a roof over your head" perspective but after having been spoilt for living in brilliant conditions so long a little of reality check and stock taking is a good thing.

The sad part of it is that economic troubles in the West will have a severe impact on developing countries and humanitarian aid. Governments that have not been overly generous in good times will not be more understanding and supportive at the times of the economic downturn.

This means, yes, half empty restaurants is a symptom of a problem that needs to be top of the agenda for some people not to beg water in the middle of the streets along Naivasha road.

Talk to my hands

I’m in deep distress after having had an unpleasant run-in with a small-minded, short-sighted, deeply mediocre person…..

…..I, on the other hand, am perfection itself…

Well…reality is that I’m not very good at confrontation…..I just can’t bring myself to it. If an annoying person crosses my path, I am agreeable and pleasant on the outside and plotting death by evisceration of the individual on the inside. I blame my Zodiac sign for that. I wish I were a poisonous Scorpio whose sinister sight would terrify people in the corridor.

I must remember to push back, and again push back instead of the usual passive-polite-aggressive behavior. There must be some way to be defiant and gracious at the same time. Or not?

Do I sense the suggestion for a self-help book coming my way?

Off to a crystallized ginger candy, see you soon.


Image from Elle Decor UK (photographer Matthew Williamson) via the amazing blog this is love forever.

Look who’s back!!

Yawhhhn..so hard to get back to blogging after a long period of idleness. However, after several days of plunging in post-Xmas funk (wearing the same pair of pants, going braless, avoiding the mirror at all costs), I am slowing trying to shrug off the lethargy of the last few weeks and recover from the sugar-induced coma. I am mentally preparing to return to New-York and to business as usual. I am excited about that…..it will be nice to be back home and be done with the holidays!

The end of the year holidays are becoming more and more of a torture as years go by. Maybe is the gifts frenzy or the New Year’s eve expectations….all of this is more and more alien to me (but I have long suspected I am an alien).

No resolutions or particular goals for this year since last year I almost got everything I wanted only to turn it down when it was served to me on a golden plate. My thoughts go to people in the world who are needing every little bit of kindness and mercy in their lives, people who struggle with real problems. To them go my thoughts and the hope that the new year will bring relief - from war, sorrow, hunger and pain.

Hope your 2009 is shiny and bright.